Dedicated to the preservation of Long Island's 'gold coast' estates and other things old.

Monday, December 30, 2013

'Ca Va'

'Ca Va', the Carroll B. Alker estate designed by Thomas H. Ellett c. 1924 in Old Brookville. Alker buit this estate after his marriage to Katherine Ingalls. The couple was divorced in 1928 and Alker would go on to build this house after he remarried. 'Ca Va' and almost 28 acres are currently for sale for $11,000,000, click HERE to see the listing via Daniel Gale Sotheby's. Click HERE to see 'Ca Va' on google earth and HERE on bing.

Yeh Long Island taxes are a real problem when trying to maintain these properties and why so many have been lost. One could easily spend anywhere from half a million to multi millions a year on taxes, utlities, maintenance, staffing, etc. so very expensive. The 2nd home is also a favorite of mine.

I've always thought Sunninghill an especially attractive property (on that surprisingly lovely stretch of 107 between Banfi's and "Bottle Buys"). Still i find it odd that the house doesn't seem to have attached to it the infamy one would expect considering its recent history; The tragic murder of that poor fellow in 1978 at the hands of notorious Jewel thieves. The debacle involving a Bahraini Prince and the "pornographic" statues he commissioned to be made in his likeness (sidebar-I assume that the Prince is responsible for the present "decor"?)....no words....